New TaqMan Array Plates Enable Systems Biology Approach to Gene Expression Analysis

CARLSBAD, Calif.–Applied Biosystems, a division of Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE), today introduced a new set of molecular tools for investigating the role of specific genes involved in more than 80 key biological pathways. The TaqMan® Array Gene Signature Plates enable scientists to cost-effectively measure the activity of multiple gene targets known to be expressed in biological pathways, processes, or disease states. This allows them to discover how changes in expression levels of those genes contribute to health and disease.

These tools enable researchers to adopt a systems biology approach to investigate the role gene networks play in complex biological processes and molecular pathologies by performing real-time PCR assays to develop biomarkers based on patterns of gene expression. The TaqMan Array Gene Signature Plates are 96-well reaction plates containing pre-formatted and dried gold-standard TaqMan Gene Expression Assays. These new molecular tools provide researchers with a fast and easy way to generate high-confidence gene expression data. The initial release of these array plates, which are available through Applied Biosystems’ website, supports pathways for research areas of interest such as lipidomics, apoptosis, and signal transduction, among others.

Scientists at the University of Regensburg in Germany are using the TaqMan Array Mouse Lipid Regulated Genes plate to analyze gene expression patterns in cellular lipidomics pathways. This research helps them to better understand how specific types of lipid molecules contribute to the regulation and control of cellular function and diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. In their studies of microglia and macrophage cells, they have found that these array plates enable quantitative analyses of the expression of highly informative lipid-related genes.

Privatdozent Dr. Thomas Langmann, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg

“The TaqMan Array Gene Signature Plates are an ideal tool to study various aspects of lipid metabolism, relevant for basic science and biomarker discovery. They provide a convenient standardized format to rapidly and cost-effectively generate high-quality data, allowing researchers to focus their precious time on how to interpret their biological results.”

Sam Raha, Vice President of Applied Biosystems’ Genomic Assays Business at Life Technologies

“Systems biology approaches have revealed the importance of understanding how the combined activity of many genes contributes to pathways related to health and disease. TaqMan Array Gene Signature Plates provide scientists with off-the-shelf technologies that simplify the analysis of the activity of representative genes involved in some of the most widely studied pathways to help advance genomic research.”

Additional Resources

TaqMan Arrays: More information about TaqMan Arrays

Real-Time PCR: Detailed description of real-time PCR

Related Publication: Biotechniques article

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Applied Biosystems is a global leader in providing innovative instrument systems to accelerate academic and clinical research, drug discovery and development, pathogen detection and forensic DNA analysis. Applied Biosystems, along with Invitrogen – a leading provider of platform independent, essential life science technologies for disease and drug research, bioproduction and diagnostics – is part of Life Technologies. Together, Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen provide the broadest portfolio of RNA analysis tools available from a single company. Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen products are used in nearly every major laboratory in the world.

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